@PompeyChicken listened in to matchday commentary of Burnley versus Pompey on BBC Radio Solent (@SolentSport), here are the notes taken.
We joined matchday commentary from Lawrence Herdman (Loz) and Alan McClaughlin (Macca) just as applause was ringing out around the whole of Turf Moor from both sets of fans to acknowledge Graham Alexander achieving 1,000 appearances.
Loz reported that there was a big crowd at Turf Moor, Dave Kitson was out injured and replaced in the starting line-up by Kanu. David Cotterill returned and replaced Carl Dickinson who dropped to the substitutes bench.
Both goalkeepers were celebrating milestones in this game: Brien Jenson ('The Beast') was making his 300th appearance for Burnley and Jamie Ashdown was making his 100th appearance for Pompey.
Pompey kicked-off, playing in all black. Macca reported that Pompey's formation was as expected 4-5-1. Hermann was captain for the second game in a row.
On 2 minutes, Joel Ward made a good run on goal but was unable to get his shot off and was crowded out. Macca noted that Burnley were playing the same formation as they did at Fratton Park earlier in the season with a flat 4 in midfield.
On 5 minutes, David Cotterill forced a corner after good work by Hayden Mullins. It was Mullins who took the corner and the ball bounced around dangerously in the penalty box before Greg Halford was penalised for an infringement.
Loz commented that the referee Mr Boyeson looked like he'd had too many Easter eggs! Macca said the linesman looked pregnant! [@PompeyChicken LOL! How do they get away with this stuff?!]
On 7 minutes, it was noted that there had been one or two good openings for Pompey in the early stages of the game. David Cotterill was looking lively. Unfortunately, Pompey hadn't got the ball in to Kanu's feet yet. Burnley were looking rusty and Pompey were hoping to take advantage of that.
On 9 minutes, it was noted the Burnley fans were starting to show their frustration as they failed to string together any passes.
On 10 minutes, Wade Elliott lost his marker, Hermann Hreidarsson, and won a corner kick. The danger was averted once Jamie Ashdown had gathered the ball under pressure from Chris Iwelumo.
On 12 minutes, David Cotterill was described as being 'bright and fresh', the Turf Moor pitch looked very good, an excellent playing surface at this [late] stage of the season.
On 14 minutes, Burnley were just starting to get in to the game and finding a bit of space and causing Pompey problems. The away team conceded a corner which Kanu effectively defended.
On 15 minutes, Pompey lost the ball which led to a quick break by Wade Elliot but the header from his cross came to nothing.
On 16 minutes, Greg Halford provided a good delivery in to the box but Herman Hreidarsson was in the wrong position, looking at the keeper instead of the ball, and he didn't get anything on it and Jenson gathered.
On 17 minutes, following a good chestdown by Iwelumo, Chris Eagles unleashed a powerful dipping volley which just went over the Pompey cross-bar.
On 18 minutes, it was noted that it was a pleasant Spring afternoon and Pompey had equipped themselves well.
On 20 minutes, Duff's deep cross found Elliott but the shot was saved by Ashdown. It was noted that both Halford and Cotterill had been in the Sheffield United team that lost to Burnley in The Championship Play-Off Final two years before. Macca observed that both teams looked a bit fatigued from the weekend and Pompey needed to get the ball in to Kanu a bit more. Loz commented that despite their bright start Pompey hadn't really tested Brien Jensen in the Burnley goal.
On 23 minutes, Halford unleashed another long throw in to the box that was met by Hreidarsson but the ball was cleared by Burnley.
On 24 minutes, Kanu was getting a bit more involved for Pompey in that languid manner of his, eventually winning a throw-in. The ball found him again but unfortunately he was penalised for a handball.
On 26 minutes, Macca noted that the game had died a bit of a death, it was a bit lacklustre from both teams. Elliott looked the biggest threat for Burnley down the right hand side especially when Nugent was drawn out of position exposing Hreidarsson.
On 28 minutes, Ashdown was called in to action in the Pompey goal, making a good sprawling save from Chris McCann and Chris Eagles. This all came about as Pompey lost possession of the ball upfield.
On 31 minutes, Loz commented that there was a 'sprinkling' of Pompey fans who'd made the trip up to Turf Moor.
On 32 minutes, Burnley won a couple of quick corners in succession but the home team's pressure eventually fizzled out and Pompey secured a goal kick.
On 35 minutes, Cotterill produced some exciting wing play and a good cross for Nugent to get in a header at the far post. The Burnley defender Mears just did enough to put him off. It was the best Pompey move of the game so far.
On 37 minutes, Mokoena made a meaningless challenge on Eagles to concede a free-kick, left of centre, in a dangerous position. Fortunately for Pompey Mears' shot went a mile over the crossbar.
On 38 minutes, Joel Ward had a shot on goal from more than thirty yards out that was very poor.
On 43 minutes, Eagles and McCann fashioned an opening for the home team, Eagles with a short lob over the defender De Laet but McCann's volley went well wide.
On 45 minutes, Macca commented that Burnley had probably just shaded the first half but Pompey had played well. With the Pompey Chimes clear in the background, Pompey forced a corner but this came to nothing. There was one minute of added time.
Right on time at the end of the first half Halford chested the ball and despite appeals for a penalty the referee blew his whistle to bring the proceedings to an end. It wasn't a penalty.
Macca summarised by stating that it wasn't the best game. Pompey had been in the mix but only one team looked like scoring and that was Burnley. Pompey need to get the ball down, be more patient and get passes in to Kanu. There were one or two tired players out there in the first half, De Laet especially.
HT: Burnley 0-0 Portsmouth
Burnley started the second half. Loz described the first half action as a 'tepid encounter'.
On 49 minutes, Chris Eagles did well to get a cross in to the box that Chris Iwelumo headed high over the bar.
On 50 minutes, Pompey defended a Burnley free-kick and won a throw-in following more good work by Joel Ward.
On 52 minutes, Burnley won another corner. The home team had upped the tempo.
On 53 minutes, Greg Halford launched a monster throw-in for Pompey but it came to nothing.
On 56 minutes, it was noted that there was plenty of pressure from Burnley who were looking to keep the pressure up on Leeds United and Nottingham Forest in the play-off hunt.
On 57 minutes, Jamie Ashdown was booked for timewasting. Shortly afterwards Pompey took the lead through David Nugent. All the creative work in the lead up to the goal came from Kanu. Nugent's celebration was minimal [he was on-loan at Turf Moor last season]. It all started with a challenge from Hreidarsson, the ball found its way to Kanu who passed to Nugent who came away from the defender and rifled the shot into the net from the edge of the area. The goal had come out-of-the-blue but it was a rocket of a shot that had sent the ball into the top corner.
On 63 minutes, Kanu nearly managed to slot the ball through to David Cotterill in a move reminiscent of his goal against Ipswich at Portman Road but it was blocked out.
On 64 minutes, Elliott crossed to Iwelumo who had a free header six yards out but Ashdown saved.
On 65 minutes, skipper Hreidarsson committed an awful challenge on Mears. Loz described it as an 'agricultural obstruction'. The Icelander received a yellow card for his trouble.
On 70 minutes, Ward showed good pace down the right and despite what looked like a push on the young midfielder Pompey got nothing from the move. Burnley broke away quickly but De Laet made a good challenge although he appeared to over stretch himself and he went down injured, although he soon got back to his feet.
On 75 minutes, Burnley found themselves back on level terms, Chris Eagles with a neat finish in to the top left hand corner of the goal. It was an excellent finish after good work by Mears and a one-two down the right. There was lots of noise from the home fans now.
On 77 minutes, on-loan substitute Nathan Delfaunso was greedy and took on a shot when there were players better positioned to receive the pass in the Pompey box.
On 80 minutes, Danny Webber came on for Jonathan Hogg, the second Pompey substitute in four minutes following Carl Dickinson's replacement of Ritchie De Laet.
On 81 minutes, Loz commented that it was becoming increasingly overcast at Turf Moor.
On 84 minutes, Aaron Mokoena blocked the ball in a Burnley move and brought it away with speed, releasing it to Webber who won a free kick. Unfortunately, Halford's free kick was poor.
On 85 minutes, Webber showed good pace down the left hand side and released the ball to Cotterill who passed on to Kanu who tried to hold the ball up. There was a cry of 'Boring, boring, Portsmouth!' from a home fan, heard loud and clear on the radio!
On 86 minutes, Kanu was doing all the simple things well. He was enigmatic and bamboozled the Burnley defender to win a corner.
On 87 minutes, Nugent had a chance to win the game for Pompey. He found himself clear and one-on-one with Brien Jensen. The big goalkeeper saved to cries of 'Beast!' from the home fans. Nugent had lacked the calm composure required to score, he could have snatched the three points.
On 90 minutes, Mokoena conceded a free-kick with a block and Cotterill was booked for kicking the ball away.
There were five minutes of added time.
On 91 minutes, Nadir Ciftci made a rare appearance from the bench in place of Nugent.
On 92 minutes, Webber beat the offside trap, the ball found its way to Ward but he spurned the chance, unable to get off his shot. Burnley broke to the other end of the pitch and won a corner.
On 95 minutes, Halford headed the ball off the goal line and over the bar for a another corner following a break by Eagles. The game was stretched.
But Pompey were able to maintain their composure and shape and saw out the draw.
FT: Burnley 1-1 Portsmouth
Portsmouth versus Burnley: Jamie Ashdown, Ritchie De Laet, Aaron Mokoena, Greg Halford, Hermann Hreidarsson, Jonathan Hogg, Hayden Mullins, David Cotterill, Joel Ward, David Nugent, Kanu. Substitutes: Carl Dickinson, Danny Webber, Nadir Ciftci, Daryll Flahavan
Attendance: 14,927
MOTM: based on what I heard on the radio, Pompey's MOTM was Kanu for the way he held together the moves up front and set up Nugent's goal.
Note: The News on 26/04/2011 gave the MOTM award for Pompey to Joel Ward (8/10) and also gave Jamie Ashdown the same high mark. They gave Chris Eagles 9/10. Kanu got 6/10 with a 'soldiered on' comment.
See here ==> http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/pompey/pompey-past/great-matches/burnley_v_pompey_hot_or_not_1_2626519
Next up: Pompey versus Norwich City (h) on Monday 2nd May at 7:45PM
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